GB Railfreight and the Nene Valley Railway are making final preparations for a charity gala weekend on September 7/8 2024, supported by Modern Railways and our sister title Hornby Magazine - and the timetable is now available online to plan your visit.
Above: The GBRf Gala Weekend will feature freight motive power on all Nene Valley Railway passenger trains on September 7/8 2024.
Funds raised from the gala will support the work of the MS Society, which provides support to those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. GB Railfreight will donate funds raised from its site tours (which have already sold out) to its charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
GBRf will be supplying locomotives of classes 47, 57, 66 and 69 to haul services on the NVR between Wansford and Peterborough North on both days of the gala, with plans to rotate locomotives across the two days where possible. In addition, Class 08 08632, which is based at GBRf’s Peterborough yard, will be operating passenger services on the Fletton branch on both days, comprising two Mk 1 carriages top-and-tailed with a Class 14 locomotive and providing a rare opportunity to travel behind an ‘08’, and 08632 in particular.
The timetable for the gala has been published on the Modern Railways and Key Model World websites - see below. While locomotive allocations are provisional and subject to change, the aim is to use the GBRf fleet in a variety of combinations, including a return trip from Wansford to Peterborough at the end of each day which features all four classes of locomotive topping and tailing.
Above: Classes 47, 57, 66 and 69 from the GBRf fleet will be operating at the GB Railfreight Weekend.
For passengers arriving by rail a shuttle bus service will be running between Peterborough station and Peterborough Nene Valley Railway, while an additional shuttle bus will be provided to transport GBRf depot access ticket holders from Peterborough station to the depot. No parking will be available on site at the GBRf depot.
Other activities during the weekend will be a display of model railways organised by Hornby Magazine and Key Model World featuring East Coast Cement in 'OO' gauge, Natford TMD in 'OO' gauge and Twelvemill Bridge in 'TT:120' scale, and ale on the rail trains on the Friday and Saturday evenings, used traction from the NVR’s home fleet. In addition, Key Publishing will have its book and model store show stand in the waiting room on Wansford station with all the latest books, magazines, modelling products and more available.
Above: Hornby Magazine's layouts will be on show at Wansford with West Coast Cement featuring East Coast traction - as well as a healthy selection of GBRf locomotives.
Advance ticket sales, offering a discount on the on-the-day price, are due to close on August 30, with further discounts available for subscribers.
